OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Salvation Army’s annual Tree of Lights campaign is set to get underway in the Omaha area next week with the annual lighting of metal Christmas trees in front of American National Bank branches in central Omaha and in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

In Omaha, hundreds are expected to gather Nov. 8 for the lighting of a 75-foot tall, two-ton metal tree with more than 60,000 LED lights and 600 lit snowflakes, topped by a 6-foot star. The event features live music, food, reindeer and other Christmas-themed offerings

Across the Missouri River, the Salvation Army will also light a Christmas tree atop the American National Bank branch in Council Bluffs and serve refreshments. The lighting ceremonies kick off the Salvation Army’s red kettle bell-ringing drive.

The money collected during the six-week campaign supports food pantries, housing, utility assistance and other services.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced the removal of four Superfund sites in Nebraska and Iowa from their national priorities list. The Iowa sites removed include the Electro-Coatings Inc. Site in Cedar Rapids, where groundwater was contaminated with chemicals from a chrome, nickel, and zinc plating operation, and the Shaw Avenue Dump Site in Charles City, where groundwater was contaminated with arsenic and other toxins from a municipal dump operated in the 40s and 50s.

The removed sites include the Omaha Lead Site in Omaha, which initially included some 14,000 properties in eastern Omaha with high lead levels, and the Cleburn Street Well Site in Grand Island, where groundwater was contaminated by hazardous chemicals from a dry-cleaning business.

The sites were among 11 others across the country removed from the priorities list.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa prosecutors say in court documents that a police raid of a Des Moines home earlier this year turned up drugs, guns and more than a dozen children in the care of an unregistered day care operation.

The Des Moines Register reports that police arrested two people in the case early Friday. Robert and Paula Mackey face multiple felony charges of child neglect and possession of drugs, as well as operating an unregistered day care.

Court documents say the search of the Mackeys’ home occurred in June, when police found more than 20 handguns and rifles, about three grams of marijuana and drug paraphernalia and 17 children. Iowa law restricts unregistered day care providers from caring for more than five children.

Police say they found guns and drugs within reach of children throughout the home.